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Home , Benin, Equatorial Guinea

THE MINERAL INDUSTRY OF OTHER COUNTRIES OF

By Staff, International Minerals Section

Benin1 documented occurrences of columbium-tantalum, industrial diamond, gypsum, mica, rare earths, rutile, tungsten, and zircon The production of mineral commodities, primarily cement in (Ministry of Energy, Mining, and Hydraulic, 1992). and crude , represented a minor part of the . (See table 1.) Benin’s mineral commodity imports Burundi2 were dominated by refined petroleum products and clinker for cement. Mineral commodity production remained a minor factor in Act No. 83-003 of May 17, 1983, was the Benin Mining the agriculturally dominated economy of inland . Minor Code. Decree No. 89-296 implemented the Code’s regulations quantities of gold, tantalum, tin, and tungsten minerals, kaolin, and Act No. 83-004 addressed fiscal policy affecting mineral limestone, and presumably construction materials were development. The Government was deliberating an updated produced. Expanding the output of gold and initiating mining code. The Office Béninoise des Mines (OBEMINES), production of nickel and associated platinum-group metals from under the Ministry of Energy, Mining, and Hydraulics, had a lateritic deposit and phosphate from a carbonatite-apatite administered mineral developments in Benin. The Department deposit, remained of considerable interest. However, the July of Mines was charged with promoting and developing the military coup signified continued ethnic and political tensions mineral sector. The Government controlled a majority interest and consequently an unstable climate for mineral development in the Société des Ciments d’Onigbolo, the country’s largest and by international investors despite the good geological potential only integrated cement plant. CIMBENIN and Société des for a substantial economic contribution from the minerals sector. Ciments du Benin were private clinker-grinding companies. Nickel exploration by RTZ Corp. of the and The Government continued its promotion of the country’s Broken Hill Pty. Co. Ltd. (BHP) of Australia remained natural resources to take advantage of the increased interest in suspended. No activity was reported on the Butihinda and West African exploration. However, the general state of the Muyinga gold deposits. nation’s transportation infrastructure has hampered development Government policy, laws, and regulations, including those of inland mineral resources. Several private companies were specifically covering mining and petroleum in 1976 and 1979, negotiating for exploration permits for gold. On the petroleum were designed to attract private investment, particularly by front, Abacan Resources Corp. of secured 50% of foreign entities. A free-trade (import-export tax free) zone Addax Petroleum Ltd. of ’s interest in offshore system covering the entire country, launched in 1993, offered Block 1, proposing to explore the block from the adjacent Block many benefits to industrial and commercial ventures. However, 309 in Nigerian territorial waters. The Société Tarpon-Benin, a minerals processing no longer qualified, according to a subsidiary of the Bettis Group of the United States, secured the Government announcement in May 1995, which resolved a contact to explore for petroleum on offshore Block No. 2. political controversy over the fact that a gold buyer-refiner, A number of gold occurrences, placer and vein, had been Affimet, was the only beneficiary. For a number of years, the identified in the Precambrian terrane in northwest Benin. Government promoted foreign support for several progressively Reserves of limestone near the cement facility at Onigbolo were more detailed studies aimed at exploiting nickel, gold, sufficient to supply the plant at design capacity for more than a phosphate, peat and other mineral resources. century. Other mineral resource development opportunities Environmental problems in mining apparently were not of identified by OBEMINES included a number of deposits of much concern because of the small-scale operations. brick and clay along the coastal plain; feldspar at Idadjo The Ministry of Energy and Mines reported mineral and -Waria; the marble deposits at Idadjo, Atomè- production valued at about $9 million3 in 1995 (Mathias (Mono), and Lanta (Couffo); peat deposits adjacent to Sebanhene, Director General of Geology and Mines, Ministry of the frontier; silica sand along the coast south of Porto Energy and Mines, written comm., 1996). (See table 1.) With Novo; and, in the north, the Loumbou-Loumbou iron-bearing the July military coup and the ensuing blockade, the value of deposit, the Mékrou phosphate deposit, and a number of potential ornamental stone quarrying sites. OBEMINES also 2Text prepared July 1997 by Bernadette Michalski. 3Where necessary, values have been converted from Burundi (FBu) to U.S. dollars at the rate of FBu282=US$1.00. 1Text prepared May 1997 by Philip M. Mobbs.

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY—MINERALS INFORMATION—1996 1 mineral production in 1996 was most likely appreciably considered a possibility for development. However, the outlook reduced. on minerals output was for no significant change. The former The principal mineral commodity exports were gold, French colony was totally dependent on imports to meet its cassiterite, columbium-tantalite, and wolframite with energy needs. destinations mostly to ; these were small compared with The economy of is based on the export of mineral imports, principally petroleum products, cement, steel, agricultural products, chiefly spices. Political instability in and fertilizer. During the first 7 months of 1996 and before the recent years has continued to have a negative affect on the imposition of a blocade, exports included 2,256 kilograms (kg) economy. of gold; 53.3 metric tons (t) of titanium oxide; 23.5 t of cassiterite; and 12 t of wolframite. Djibouti6 Infrastructure included an extensive domestic road network, although only a few were paved. Beyond the border, roads to The few reports available in recent years on mineral industry available railheads were rather poor, except northward through activity in indicated intermittent entrepreneurial into and . By this route, the ocean port of production of small quantities of solar-evaporated sea salt, Mombasa, Kenya, was about 2,100 kilometers (km) from limestone (some of which was at least periodically calcined to Bujumbura. Lake vessels were a major mode of transportation, lime), and construction materials, including clays, sand, gravel connecting Bujumbura with several railheads in , Zaire, and crushed stone, as well as some marble and granite and . An international airport was at Bujumbura, but dimension stone. However, other mineral occurrences of only a few other airstrips existed. Hydroelectric power was economic interest include diatomite, geothermal fluids and reasonably available in much of the country, with a potential for mineral salts, gold, gypsum, perlite, pumice, and possibly additional development. Telecommunications were limited. petroleum. Most of these are near Lake Asal, although some The outlook for the minerals industry was for little change, gold indications were further west near Yoboki and in the south pending resolution of the political situation. Hydropower near Ali Sabieh. Oil interest was focused in the south and potential and abundance of water were advantages, but export offshore in the Gulf of Aden. transportation, as well as infrastructural factors in general, were The Government was trying to attract foreign investment to not favorable. develop the mineral industry. However, no major changes in the status of the mineral industry were expected in the immediate Cape Verde4 future.

Mining’s contribution to the economy of was Equatorial Guinea7 minimal. Most of the nation’s mineral requirements were imported. Salt and volcanic rock were produced for local use. The of Equatorial consisted of the volcanic Salt was economically significant because one of its main uses island of in the and Rio Muni on the was to preserve a portion of Cape Verde’s fish harvest. The African mainland. Decree No. 9/1981 regulated mining activity, fishing industry has accounted for about 60% of the nation’s except aggregate and radioactive minerals. Mineral resources export earnings in recent years. Other mineral deposits, formerly were the property of the state. Production was subject to a 5% produced commercially but abandoned as noneconomic, include royalty rate. Petroleum exploration and production in Equatorial gypsum, kaolin, and dimension stone. Guinea were controlled by the Decree No. 7/1981, pursuant to the earlier Hydrocarbons law (Model of Agreement), section II, Comoros5 paragraph 2.8 (E). Production-sharing agreements initially credited the state with 10% of output. The Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros has a total Several mineral and geologic surveys have been conducted of 2,170 square kilometers (km2), located on three main islands, in recent years by various organizations. In 1975, the Soviets in the Channel about two-thirds of the way assessed Rio Muni’s bauxite, gold, iron, and radioactive between northern and northern Mozambique. It had minerals. In the early 1980’s, Guineo Españo de Minas S.A. a 1996 population of 570,000 and a conducted aero-magnetic and aero-radiometric surveys and (GDP) per capita, last estimated in 1994 at $700. ground exploration. From 1981 to 1985, ’s Bureau de The mineral industry of Comoros continued to be limited to Recherches Géologiques et Minières (BRGM) identified the production of common construction materials, such as clay, occurrences of bauxite, copper, alluvial gold, ilmenite beach sand, gravel, and crushed stone for local consumption. sands, lead, phosphates, and zinc in Rio Muni. Quantities were not available but were presumably very low UMC Corp., a subsidiary of United because there were no significant construction projects noted in Meridian Corp. of the United States, was entered an exclusive the press since the early 1980’s. Geothermal energy was 33-month mineral development agreement for the entire Rio

4Text prepared May 1997 by Philip M. Mobbs. 6Text prepared May 1997 by Philip M. Mobbs. 5Text prepared 1997 by George J. Coakley. 7Text prepared July 1997 by Philip M. Mobbs.

2 U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY—MINERALS INFORMATION—1996 Muni area in March 1996. During 1996, UMC conducted Diamond Corp., the preliminary evaluation of samples collected reconnaissance sampling for a gold exploration program and in 1996 indicate a high-grade kimberlite at the satellite pipe and was pursuing partners for joint ventures on its Rio Muni a medium-to-high grade kimberlite at the main pipe which, concession (UMC Equatorial Guinea Corp., 1997). when combined with the large tonnage, give the project a CMS NOMECO Oil & Gas Co. of the United States had potential to be pursued in 1997. The second phase of the acquired the Equatorial Guinea operations of Walter exploration, a major bulk sampling, was planned for 1997 that International Inc. of the United States during 1995. CMS will provide large parcels of Liqhobong stones for evaluation NOMECO effectively increased its working interest in the Alba prior to commencement of the feasibility study. gas-condensate field in the Gulf of Guinea, 36 km offshore of Liqhobong Kimberlite Complex is situated northeast of the Bioko from 16.67% to approximately 35%. Samedan Oil Corp. Highlands Water held 34.8% interest in the consortium, and Globex International Development Project (HWP) in the Maluti mountains. The first and Axem Resources held the remaining interest. CMS dam of this project was completed during 1996. Total cost of NOMECO was constructing a 3-million-cubic-meter-per-year HWP, which is provided by Bank, is estimated at $4 liquefied petroleum gas plant in Equatorial Guinea to process billion. production from Alba. Natural gas from the field had been flared Lesotho produced, for domestic consumption, a small amount since condensate production began in 1991. of crushed stone, clay, and sand and gravel. Diamond production Mobil Oil Equatorial Guinea Inc. (75%), a subsidiary of during the year was 1,500 carats, which was mined primarily by Mobil Corp. of the United States, and UMC (25%) continued rudimentary methods. development of the offshore Zafiro prospect. The companies had a 268,000 deadweight-ton tanker converted into a floating Liberia9 production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessel. Oceaneering Production Systems of the United States operated floating The mineral economy of continued to be adversely facility. Two processing lines with a total 80,000-barrel-per-day affected by the civil war that started in 1989. Negotiations (bbl/d) capacity were installed and the FPSO has a storage between the opposing parties resulted in a peace accord during capability of approximately 1.2 million barrels. Production from 1995. The agreement subsequently collapsed as had prior cease- Zafiro Field began on August 25, 1996. fires. The Mobil and UMC venture was actively drilling Mineral production consisted mainly of artisanally mined exploration and development wells on Block B. During 1996, diamonds and gold. (See table 1.) Many of the diamonds the Zafiro-4 and -5 were drilled; as well as the Topacio-1 and - exported from Liberia were believed to have come from other 2, approximately 5 km to the south; the Rubi-1, 4 km southeast West African countries. of Zafiro-1; the Amatista-1; and the IQI-105 (re-designated the Jade-1), 5 km to the southeast. Being drilled at yearend were the Malawi10 Zafiro-6 and the Azurita-1. UMC (75%) and Yukong Ltd. of the Republic of Korea (25%) were reviewing data on their Block C The Republic of is a surrounded and Block D leases, with water depths ranging from 150 to 750 by Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zambia. It has an area of meters (m). On Block D, the partnership was drilling the Perla- 119,140 km2 of which 20% is Lake Malawi. With a population 1 at yearend. of about 10.7 million in 1996, Malawi’s per capita GDP was estimated by the U.S. Embassy at $193. The economy of Lesotho8 Malawi is based mostly on , which contributes to 35% of the GDP and for over 90% of total export earnings (U.S. Lesotho has long been known as a source of diamonds, Embassy, , 1997). The mineral sector contributed mostly from alluvial deposits. In recent years, 33 kimberlite modestly to the economy and accounted for an estimated 3% of pipes and 140 kimberlite dykes, of which 24 are the GDP in 1996. Production of cement, coal, crushed stone for diamondiferous, have been identified by the Lesotho Geological aggregates, dolomite, limestone, and some artisanal salt Survey. The Liqhobong Kimberlites Complex, northeast of production was consumed locally. (See table 1.) Malawi also Lesotho, is one of three areas in which Messina Corporation of produced small amounts of lime. The Department of Mines also Canada carried on an intensive exploration program during reports that some companies are producing various gemstones 1996. The first phase of exploration that covered an area of like (in order of volume) rubies, sapphires, aquamarine, approximately 400 hectares was accomplished at a cost of $2.5 amethyst, garnet, agate and corundum on a small scale and at million, which included detailed mapping and sampling. The organized levels (Malawi Ministry of Energy and Mines, 1997). sampling was done on two kimberlite pipes. The main pipe Coal, from the Mchenga Mine, and limestone produced in covering about 9.5 hectares (ha) and the satellite pipe covering Malawi were essential components of the country’s cement and approximately 1.6 ha, are connected by a narrow, 1 meter wide, lime industries. The production of stone for aggregate and dyke. According to a February 4, 1997 press release of Messina

9Text prepared May 1997 by Philip M. Mobbs. 10 8Prepared 1997 by Ebraham Shekarchi. Text prepared August 1997 by George J. Coakley.

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY—MINERALS INFORMATION—1996 3 cement was the largest component, by value, of Malawi’s subsidiary, ALUSAF Ltd.’s aluminum smelter in Richards Bay, mineral production. (Mining Journal [London], 1996). The country has known mineral deposits of apatite, Renewed interest in the mining sector included MIDCOR’s aquamarine, bauxite, corundum, glass sand, granite, graphite, study of the flake graphite deposit at Katengeza in the Dowa kaolin, kyanite, phosphates, pyrite, tourmaline, uranium, and District. MIDCOR also was looking for joint-venture investors vermiculite. Current exploration efforts are directed toward to develop the Ngana coal, Bwanje Valley high-calcitic marble, deposits of base metals, diamond, garnet, gold, rare earths, and precious and semiprecious stones, and apatite deposits. The rutile and ilmenite sands. apatite would be used as a feed for the country’s fertilizer Mineral activities are covered by the Mines and Minerals industry. The Ministry of Energy and Mining also estimated total Act, 1981; the Mines and Minerals (Mineral Rights) coal reserves of more than 800 Mt. Caledonia Mining Regulations, 1981; and the Petroleum (Exploration and Corporation of Canada acquired an 8.4 km2 prospecting license Production) Act of 1983. All minerals are vested in the covering the Kangankunde Hill carbonatite complex about 50 President on behalf of the people of Malawi. The Ministry of km north of Blantyre. MIDCOR reported that BRGM of France Energy and Mines is authorized to negotiate incentives and studies of the carbonatite showed that there are “2 Mt of benefits with investors. The Government encourages local and possible reserves at 6.6% monazite and 546,000 tons of minable foreign investment and anticipates that mining would diversify reserves averaging 10.3% monazite. indicated reserves the Nation’s economy from its agricultural base. The preferred amount to 11 Mt of ore grading 2.0% rare-earth oxides and 8% methods of investment in Malawi are joint ventures or the strontianite” (Malunga, 1997). establishment of local subsidiaries. Three types of mining licenses are issued in Malawi for Mauritius11 small-mining operations, 1) the mineral permits/rights; for larger operations, 2) the exclusive prospecting licenses, and 3) The Republic of is a small island nation of 1,860 mining licenses (which are submitted to the Commissioner for km2, located about 1,000 km east of Madagascar. It has Mines and Minerals to be considered by the Licensing population of 1.14 million and a healthy GDP per capita, last Committee). According to the Minister of Energy and Mines, estimated in 1995, of $9,600. processing time for the mining license is 2 months (U.S. The mineral industry of Mauritius was a negligible factor in Embassy, Lilongwe, 1996). All mining licenses can be the economy which is based chiefly on tourism and the export of transferred. In addition to the Ministry of Energy and Mines, the sugar and textiles. As a participating member of the Mining Investment and Development Corp. (MIDCOR) is the Round and the World Trade Organization, Mauritius lost its Government holding company responsible for overseeing the preferential trade status in several of its major export markets, mining sector. Environmental provisions in the Mines and which negatively impacted the economy of Mauritius in 1995 Minerals Act, a result of Malawi’s review of its environmental (World Trade Organization, 1995). Mauritius expanded its concerns in June 1994, included the requirement that the tourism sector and was trying to position itself as a regional Department of Research and Environmental Affairs review an financial hub in 1995. It maintained a favorable foreign environmental impact assessment with each mineral rights investment climate and a Free Port Authority. application ( Development Programme, 1995). Historically, mineral output consisted of the local production In 1996, the Government began a process of privatizing a and use of basalt construction stone, coral sand, lime from coral, number of state-owned corporations. Among the first of these and solar-evaporated sea salt. Quantitative information was was the government sale of 51% of its share of the Portland rarely available and then appeared to be inconsistent. Data on Cement Company Ltd. (PPC) to the Commonwealth production of mineral commodities were not available, but Development Corp. of the United Kingdom (CDC). As based on past activity Mauritius produces about 7,000 t/yr of Malawi’s only cement producer, PCC operates from two main lime, 6,000 t/yr of salt, 300,000 t/yr of sand, and 1,000,000 t/yr sites; at Changalume, where the limestone quarry and kilns are of stone. Environmental concerns were being raised over the located, and at Blantyre, 70 km to the south, where the clinker mining of coral sand and its impact on coastal lagoons. Sand grinding and final packaging is done. CDC planned to invest made from crushing basalt rock was used as a substitute for $16.5 million in 1996 and an additional $8.9 million in 1998 to natural sand in construction materials. expand and upgrade the quarry operations and main kiln. CDC Polymetallic nodules occurred on the ocean floor at about planned to expand production from 125,000 metric tons per 4,000 m depth, extending from 400 km to 800 km north of Port year (t/yr) to 180,000 t/yr by the year 2000 (International Louis, northeast of Tromelin Island. The nodules averaged more Cement Review, 1996). than 15% each of iron and manganese and more than 0.3% A 1994 study identified a bauxite cobalt, with an abundance averaging from 2 to 6 kg per square reserve of around 28 million metric tons (Mt) averaging 43.9% meter. The abundance of land-based resources of these aluminum oxide at Mulanje Mountain, for which the commodities made it unlikely that these resources would be Government, in 1996, was actively seeking investment to developed in the foreseeable future. develop an integrated mine and alumina plant and possibly an aluminum smelter. Gencor Ltd. of South Africa indicated an interest in purchasing alumina from any potential project for its 11Text prepared August 1997 by George J. Coakley.

4 U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY—MINERALS INFORMATION—1996 While the country is totally dependent on imports for its The price of gasoline and diesel is determined by the energy requirements, oil possibilities were of interest east of the Government, however, other petroleum products are not polymetallic nodules area at shallower depth. The area was controlled. Most of the distribution and marketing of fuels was inconclusively explored with geophysics and drilling by Texaco conducted by the following privately owned companies: in the 1970’s. Mbendi Information Services of South Africa Enterprise Rwandaise de Petrole, Societe Generale de Petrole, reports energy consumption coming from electricity (10.5%), and Rwanda Petrolgaz. The Government is a major equity coal (5.4%), and oil-derived products (84.1%). Mauritius holder in PetroRwanda which enjoys a market share of consumed about 570,000 tons of oil products in 1993 and was approximately 25%. growing at a rate of about 7% per year (Mbendi Information The structure of the industry consisted mostly of a number of Services, 1995). Bids were being sought during 1996 to conduct small cooperatives and individual artisanal miners that produced a feasibility study for a 5-megawatt irrigation-hydroelectric dam the concentrates of tin, tungsten, columbium-tantalum, and gold in Midlands (Africa Energy & Mining, 1996). ores from scattered locations, generally in a zone about 30 km Steel reinforcing bars were made from imported ingot at three wide extending east-west through . Mineral production rolling mills. The near-term outlook for the exploitation of data were estimated. (See table 1.) Mineral reserves data were minerals other than construction materials was negligible. not available. Transportation was tied to the internal network of paved Reunion12 roads. Rwanda must rely on neighboring states for access to seaports on the Indian Ocean 1,500 km east of Kigali at Reunion, an overseas department of France, is a small island Mobassa (Kenya) and Dar es Salaam (Tanzania). Typical c.i.f of 2,510 km2, located about 650 km east of Madagascar. It has delivered costs of imports were 30% higher than f.o.b. vessel in population of 680,000 and a gross national product per capita port. There were no railroads in Rwanda, but several terminals estimated in 1995 at $4,300. It has an agricultural economy were located about 400 km from Kigali—north in Uganda, and dominated by sugar cane exports. In 1996, France began to south and southeast in Tanzania. Lake Kivu, navigable by promote investment in Reunion for value added products that shallow-draft barges, provided low-cost transportation to a would have duty-free export access to markets. limited area, and the international airport at Kigali was an Mineral commodities production represented only a small important factor in the transportation picture. part of the economy of Reunion in 1995 as in prior years, even Ample hydroelectric power was advantageous to further though little quantitative information was available. However, industrial and mine development. However, the electrical output of hydraulic cement, made by grinding imported clinker, distribution system was still rather limited. For several years, presumably remained substantial, well above 300,000 t/yr. The Rwanda was only able to generate 60% of the country’s plant, owned by Ciments de Bourbon S.A. at Le Port, had a electricity requirement. The diesel-powered Ntakura electric capacity of 350,000 t/yr. Additionally, production of basic powerplant has been down since 1993. volcanic rock and sea coast coral undoubtedly continued to meet Environmental problems at the many small mines were the needs of construction. Little change in future mineral activity known to exist, but economic conditions were not conducive to was anticipated. their resolution. The outlook on mineral production was for a gradual return to pre-1994 conditions as, and if, the political Rwanda13 situation stabilized. In view of continued civil unrest, significant changes were not likely for some time. The mineral industry, principally the mining of columbium- tantalum, tin, and tungsten ores, made only a very minor São Tomé e Principe14 contribution to Rwanda’s economy. Agricultural products, principally and tea, provided the bulk of export earnings The Democratic Republic of São Tomé e Principe is a dual while the mineral industry contributed less than 10% to total island Nation south of and west of on the exports valued at $40 million. Mineral commodity imports, in the . The country’s mineral production predominantly petroleum products, structural steel, and cement encompassed some small clay and stone open pit operations constituted about 25% of total imports valued at $250 million. supplying local construction needs. All other minerals and Trade was mostly with the United States and Europe. Rwanda refined petroleum products were imported. has no crude or refinery activities, importing all of its commercial energy in the form of refined petroleum products Seychelles15 from Kenya and Tanzania. Petroleum product consumption is less than 2,000 bbl/d. Gasoline and diesel were the principal The Republic of is a group of 40 granitic and 50 petroleum imports; however, heavy fuel oil, consumed by a few or more coralline islands with a total area of 455 km2, located in industrial units, accounted for about 15% of petroleum imports. the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar. It has population of

12Text prepared August 1997 by George J. Coakley. 14Text prepared May 1997 by Philip M. Mobbs. 13Text prepared July 1997 by Bernadette Michalski. 15Text prepared August 1997 by George J. Coakley.

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY—MINERALS INFORMATION—1996 5 nearly 73,000 and a GDP per capita of $6,000. The economy is economy. For a number of years, officially reported mineral based on tourism. production and trade data have not been available. The country Mineral production in Seychelles consisted mostly of was one of the world’s least developed, and prior to the unspecified quantities of construction materials—clay, coral, authoritarian Government’s overthrow early in 1991, all of stone, and sand. Output of guano, an organic phosphate fertilizer industry—with minerals production being only a small composed of bird droppings, ceased in the mid-1980’s, but a part—was estimated typically to contribute less than 10% to the 5,000-t/yr-capacity remained; occasional small production was nation’s GDP. unofficially reported. The structure of the mineral industry prior to 1991 consisted Granite in the bedrock of Mahe and nearby islands had some of a 10,000-bbl/d petroleum refinery at and a economic potential. It was quarried for dimension stone on a 200,000-t/yr cement plant near Berbera, both operated by trial basis by an Italian firm in the early 1980’s. In 1992, parastatals; and a 1,500 t/yr plaster (calcined gypsum) Gondwana Granite, a South African company, was granted a production facility near Berbera, plus a number of small marine license to extract and export up to 3,000 cubic meters of granite. salt, sepiolite (meerschaum), and crude construction material Tile and statuary products were the most likely end uses. Lime producers at various locations, all believed to be privately and cement production from the abundant coral also continued owned and operated. A few tens of tons per year of meerschaum to be considered. However, preservationists and other was the only noteworthy mineral export commodity. environmentally concerned groups opposed both the granite and Mineral production presumably continued in a limited way coral use projects. during 1996, despite the political situation, because of the Polymetallic nodules were known to occur on the ocean artisanal nature of salt and meerschaum production. The cement bottom near the Admirante Islands. Limited sampling was done and gypsum plants in Berbera, in the relatively stable, in the mid-1980’s, but funds for further planned work were not unrecognized, breakaway republic which calls itself available. may have increased production. (See table 1.) The oil potential of the entire Seychelles region continued to Infrastructure was rather limited. The transport system was be promoted by the Government-owned Seychelles National Oil poor, with no railroad and the 5,000-km road network in need Company (SNOC) through the Petroleum Mining Act of 1976. of repair. There were three main sea ports at Berbera, Tar balls from subsurface seeps were known for many years to Chisimaio, and Mogadishu. occur on beaches of Coetivy Island, as well as on Mahe and some nearby islands. Exploration began in 1969, and up to Sudan17 1994, 23,150 km of seismic profiles and 27,911 km of aeromagnetic lines had been accumulated. In the early 1980’s, Mineral commodities produced in Africa’s largest country Amoco drilled three wells about 150 km west of Victoria, each included cement, chromite, crude construction material, crude of which showed evidence of hydrocarbons, but gave up its oil, gold, gypsum, limestone, petroleum refinery products, and acreage when oil prices dropped. In the late 1980’s, several salt. Although the quantities were small in the world view and other companies acquired exploration rights in the Seychelles: the industry contributed very little to ’s economy, the Enterprise Oil PLC, a British major oil firm, in the southeast, country had some potential for increasing output of oil and gas, and Texaco of the United States and Lasmo PLC of the United gold, and chromite, as well as for reviving production of Kingdom in the north and west. Enterprise reportedly undertook manganese ores and several industrial minerals. Although a $10 million drilling test in 1995 on its 10,000-(km2) offshore minerals typically provided less than 1% of export revenues, concession, 200 km southeast of Victoria. Mbendi Information mineral commodity imports, principally petroleum refinery Services of South Africa reported that Enterprise Oil’s offshore products, crude oil, fertilizer, and structural steel constituted a appraisal well in the southern Constant Bank was declared dry significant proportion of total imports. in August 1995 (Mbendi Information Services, 1996). A The 13-year-old civil war in the south adversely affected comprehensive 1996 report on the Seychelles geology, petroleum exploration in the region. The Sudan People’s hydrocarbon potential, historical exploration activity, Liberation Army declared international exploration activity to be geophysical data availability, and the terms of SNOC’s Model a military target (Journal of Commerce, 1997). Petroleum Agreement are available through the Mbendi Internet Sudan had been under sanction by the United States site. Government since 1993 when Sudan had been placed on its list Petroleum could well play a larger role in the future economy of state sponsors of terrorism. The Antiterrorism and Effective of the Seychelles. Death Penalty Act of April 1996 prohibited American companies from entering into financial transactions with Sudan; Somalia16 however, Sudan was excepted from the Act in August 1996 (Washington Post, 1997). Beginning in April 1996, members of Continued political instability extended the Somali minerals the Sudanese Government were subject to travel constraints industry’s historically insignificant influence in the nation’s under United Nations Resolution 1054 and United Nations

16Text prepared July 1997 by Philip M. Mobbs. 17Text prepared July 1997 by Philip M. Mobbs.

6 U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY—MINERALS INFORMATION—1996 Resolution 1070 restricted international flights by the capacity. Port Sudan and nearby Suakin were deepwater ports Government’s Sudan Airways. on the Sea. Government policy codified in the Investment Electric power shortages were not uncommon, and studies on Encouragement Act of 1980 encouraged foreign investments, generation and distribution improvements were a focus of especially in minerals. That Act and the Mines and Quarries Act foreign aid. Hydropower was an important component, but of 1972 and Regulations of 1973, together with the Petroleum liquid-fueled steam-turbine units were widely used. An Act and Regulations of 1972 and 1973, respectively, appeared additional thermal plant north of and new hydro dams to be the principal laws affecting the minerals industry, except and facilities were also being planned. for radioactive minerals and precious stones, which were treated The outlook for development of additional oil production separately. appeared promising. Increased chromite and gold output also The structure of the mineral industry consisted of mostly was probable. However, the political climate and continued rather small companies, often producing intermittently, although economic instability were likely to deter major international gold and oil possibilities were attracting larger foreign efforts at further exploiting the remaining mineral potential of companies into at least some exploration. State-owned Sudan for some time. The generally poor infrastructure was an companies had become significant in the early 1970’s and additional obstacle to any significant mineral production remained the sole producers of cement and oil refinery products. increases. Private firms began operating again in 1979. The only known gold producer, Ariab Mining Co., was References Cited owned 60% by the Government’s Sudanese Mining Co. and 40% by the Mine Or S.A., an affiliate of LaSource Compagnie Africa Energy & Mining, 1996, New start for Midlands project?: Paris, Africa Energy & Mining, Indigo Publications, no. 188, September 11, p. 6. Minière. Ariab expanded its treatment plant’s processing Arab Petroleum Research Center, 1997, Arab oil & gas directory: Paris, Arab capacity to 220,000 t/yr to handle increased output from the Petroleum Research Center, p. 399-408. Hadal Avatil and Baderuk pits. (See table 1.) International Cement Review, 1996, Malawi’s secure cement future: Gold prospecting licenses were the subject of negotiations International Cement Review, September, p. 89-90. Journal of Commerce, 1997, Sudan rebel group warns—All foreign oil firms between the Government and several international companies targets: Journal of Commerce, March 3, p. 5B. during 1996. Mine Or and Bulgarian and Chinese companies Malawi Ministry of Energy and Mines, 1997, Mineral Potential of were actively pursuing gold exploration opportunities. Malawi—Opportunities for mineral investment: Malawi Ministry of Energy and Mines, May, p. 8. Crude oil production by Government’s Public Petroleum Malunga, G.W.P., 1997, Mineral potential of Malawi: Lilongwe, Malawi, Corp. and/or ’s Rompetrol Group was reported in the Mining Investment and Development Corp. Ltd., , 14 p. Abu Ghabra area, about 750 km southwest of Khartoum. The Mbendi Information Services, 1995, Mauritius—Oil industry profile: Mbendi Information Services, November 18, 1995 (Accessed August 13, 1997, on Government operated a small 2,000 bbl/d refinery at Abu the World Wide Web at URL http://mbendi.co.za/cymroi.htm) Ghabra. ———1996, Seychelles oil industry profile: Mbendi Information Services, State Petroleum Corp., a subsidiary of Arakis Energy Corp. February 13, 1996 (Accessed August 21, 1997, on the World Wide Web at of Canada, began production in April 1996 from wells in the URL http://mbendi.co.za/cyseoius.htm) Mining Journal (London), 1996, Malawi alumina tempts Gencor: Mining Heglig Field. Crude oil production was trucked to the railroad Journal, v. 325, no. 8381, May 31, p. 418. and transported to the refinery at El-Obeid. The 10,000-bbl/d Ministry of Energy, Mining, and Hydraulics, 1992, Benin mining resources: refinery was commissioned in July 1996. In December 1996, , Benin, Ministry of Energy, Mining, and Hydraulics, 23 p. UMC Equatorial Guinea Corporation, 1997, Rio Muni minerals concession: Arakis, China National Petroleum Corp., Petronas Carigali Sdn. (Houston), UMC Equatorial Guinea Corporation, (unpaginated). Bhd. of , and the Government agreed to fund the United Nations Development Programme, 1995, Sustainable development proposed pipeline from the Heglig and Unity Fields in the networking program in Malawi project document, August 6, 1996. (Accessed May 21, 1997, on World Wide Web at URL http://192.124.15/ Muglad Basin to a new terminal to be built south of Port Sudan sdnp/of/malawi/html ASCII (text) format) (Arab Petroleum Research Center, 1997). U.S. Embassy, Lilongwe, Malawi, 1997, FY 1997 country commercial guide: Gulf Petroleum Corp. of , National Oil Co. of Sudan, U.S. Embassy, Lilongwe, Malawi, August 1996 (Accessed August 12, 1997, and Concorp Ltd. of Sudan were working to develop the Adar- on the World Wide Web at URL http://www.state.gov/www/about_state/ business/com_guides/africa/malawi97.html. ASCII text format). Yail Field. In January 1996, International Petroleum Sudan Ltd., ———1996, Malawi’s mineral potential: U.S. State Department Airgram a subsidiary of Red Sea Oil Corp. plugged and abandoned the Lilongwe 002915 (July 15, 1996), 3 p. offshore Suakin-2 well. Total Exploration, a subsidiary of Total Washington Post, 1997, U.S. eased law on terrorism to aid oil firm: January 23, p. A1. S.A. of France, has suspended exploration operations on two World Trade Organization, 1995, Trade policy review: Mauritius, Minutes of onshore blocks since 1985 because of the civil war. 17-18, 1995 meeting of the WTO Trade Policy Review Body, Reserve data on minerals in the Sudan were not considered Report WT/TPR/5, December 14, 1995, 22 p. sufficiently reliable for publication. Infrastructure problems in the country were severe. Roads Major Sources of Information were the primary transportation mode and were badly in need of repair. A 4,800-km railway network linked major cities, but was Ministère de l’Energie, des Mines et de l’Hydraulique in poor condition and carried only a fraction of the tonnage it Department of Mines had in the early 1970’s. A refined petroleum products pipeline 04 B.P. 1412 800 km from Port Sudan to Khartoum operated much below Cotonou, Benin

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY—MINERALS INFORMATION—1996 7 Telephone: (229) 31-29-07 Department of Mines, Director Fax: (229) 31-35-46 P.O. Box 251 Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mining Lilongwe, Malawi P.O. Box 175 Telephone: (265) 722-194 or 722-933 Djibouti, Djibouti Fax: (265) 722-772 Telephone: (253) 350-340 Geological Survey Department, Director Fax: (253) 350-174 P.O. Box 27 Ministerio de Minas y Energia Lilongwe, Malawi Departmento de Minas y Hydrocarburos Telephone: (265) 522-166 B.P. 778 Fax: (265) 522-716 , Equatorial Guinea Mining Investment and Development Corp Ltd. Telephone (240) 9-2086 The General Manager Fax: (240) 9-3353 P.O. Box 565 Departments of Mines and Geology Lilongwe, Malawi Ministry of Water, Energy and Mining Telephone: (265) 741-664 , Lesotho Fax: (265) 743-768 Ministry of Energy and Mines Ministry of Energy and Mining The Principal Secretary P.O. Box 2087 Private Bag 309 Khartoum, Sudan Lilongwe, Malawi Telephone: 755-95 Telephone: (265) 781-255 or 781-960 Telex: 22256 Fax: (265) 784-236

8 U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY—MINERALS INFORMATION—1996 TABLE 1 OTHER COUNTRIES OF AFRICA: PRODUCTION OF MINERAL COMMODITIES

(Metric tons unless otherwise specified)

Commodity 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 e/ BENIN 1/ 2/ Cement, hydraulic e/ 370,000 380,000 380,000 380,000 380,000 Petroleum, crude thousand 42-gallon barrels 931 950 e/ 884 570 e/ 1,000 Steel, crude e/ 8,000 2,000 3/ ------BURUNDI 4/ Clays: Kaolin 9,690 5,000 e/ 2,331 4,766 4,500 Columbium-tantalum, mine output, ore (30% Ta2O5): Gross weight e/ kilograms 30,000 -- 90,000 160,000 200,000 Ta2O5 content do. 8,527 -- 26,125 46,692 60,000 Gold e/ do. 32 20 1,000 r/ 2,000 r/ 2,200 Lime e/ 182 5/ 150 150 200 200 Peat e/ 12,000 5/ 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 Tin, mine output, ore ( 60% SnO2): Gross weight e/ kilograms 183 5/ 100 -- 25 45 Sn content e/ do. 110 60 -- 15 5/ 25 Tungsten, mine output, ore (65 % WO3) Gross weight e/ kilograms ------42,500 30,000 WO3 content do. ------27,493 20,000 LIBERIA 1/ 6/ Cement, hydraulic 8,282 8,300 e/ -- -- e/ -- Diamond e/ carats 150,000 150,000 100,000 150,000 150,000 Gold e/ kilograms 700 700 700 800 700 Iron ore thousand metric tons 1,742 ------e/ -- MALAWI 7/ 8/ 9/ Cement, hydraulic 112,000 127,000 121,954 138,675 140,000 Coal 39,200 52,800 34,630 14,635 20,000 Dolomite e/ 2,500 2,000 1,321 5/ 876 5/ 700 Gemstones: Ruby and sapphire e/ kilograms 20,000 20,000 21,454 5/ 75,588 5/ 100,000 Lime e/ 4,000 2,560 3,544 5/ 1,119 5/ 2,000 Stone: Crushed for aggregate 420,000 380,308 65,039 65,601 456,000 Limestone, for cement 175,000 126,000 173,758 175,578 133,648 5/ RWANDA e/ 10/ 11/ Cement 60,000 60,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 Columbite-tantalite, ore and concentrate: Gross weight kilograms 100,000 100,000 10,000 149,000 100,000 Cb content do. 34,000 34,000 3,400 40,000 30,000 Ta content do. 22,000 22,000 2,200 28,000 25,000 Gold, mine output, Au content do. 1,000 1,000 100 26 25 Tin, mine output, Sn content 500 400 50 242 200 Tungsten, mine output, W content 175 175 30 47 40 e/ 12/ Cement, hydraulic 25,000 25,000 25,000 25,000 30,000 Gypsum 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 Limestone 13/ 40,000 40,000 40,000 40,000 45,000 Salt, marine 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 Sepiolite (meerschaum) 2 5 5 6 6 SUDAN e/ 14/ Cement, hydraulic 250,000 250,000 250,000 391,000 r/ 380,000 Chromium, chromite, mine output, gross weight 15/ 10,000 11,500 25,000 25,000 15,000 Gold, mine output, Au content kilograms 1,000 1,600 3,000 3,700 4,500 Petroleum: Crude (including lease condensate) thousand 42-gallon barrels 110 360 730 730 1,000 Refinery products do. 6,000 r/ 6,200 r/ 6,500 r/ 6,600 r/ 7,000 Salt 75,000 75,000 75,000 75,000 50,000 e/ Estimated. r/ Revised. 1/ Includes data available through July 1997. 2/ In addition to the commodities listed, a variety of industrial minerals and construction materials (clays, gypsum, sand and gravel, and stone) are produced; but information is inadequate to make reliable estimates of output. 3/ Plant closed in 1993. 4/ Table includes data available through July 15, 1997. 5/ Reported figure. 6/ In addition to the commodities listed, a variety of industrial minerals and construction materials (clays, gypsum, sand and gravel, and stone) are produced; but information is inadequate to make reliable estimates of output. 7/ Estimated data are rounded to three significant digits. 8/ Includes data available through May 21, 1997. TABLE 1 OTHER COUNTRIES OF AFRICA: PRODUCTION OF MINERAL COMMODITIES

9/ In addition to commodities listed, modest quantities of unlisted varieties of crude construction materials (clay, sand and gravel, and other stone) may also be produced, but information in inadquate to make reliable estimates of output levels. 10/ Includes data available through June 30, 1997. 11/ In addition to commodities listed, the following are produced but information is inadequate to reliably estimate output: some gemstones (sapphire and tourmaline); limestone for cement and possibly agriculture; shale and/or clay for cement; and probably crude construction materials (e.g., clays for brick and tile, sand and gravel, stone) from small local operations. Beryllium (beryllium concentrate, estimated 10% BeO) production was last reported in 1985 at 27 tons. Tin smelter output was last reported in 1985 at 800 tons metal when the smelter was reported shut down. 12/ In addition to commodities listed, various crude construction materials (e.g., clays, sand and gravel, crushed and dimension stone) and limestone for lime manufacture and/or agriculture are presumably produced; also clay and/or shale are normally produced for cement manufacture, however, available information is inadequate to make reliable estimates of output. 13/ Estimated for cement manufacture only. 14/ In addition to the commodities listed, the following are presumably produced but available information is inadequate to reliably estimate output: clay and/or shale for cement manufacture (normally about 0.4 ton clay and/or shale per ton of finished cement); gypsum for cement manufacture (about 0.04 ton gypsum per ton of finished cement) and plaster; limestone for cement manufacture (normally at least 1.25 ton limestone per ton of finished cement), agriculture, lime manufacture, and construction aggregate and fill; and other locally used construction materials (clays, sand and gravel, stone, et al.). Also production of manganese ore (48% to 50% manganese) was reported for 1990 at 60,000 metric tons. 15/ Presumed to be ores and concentrates with an estimated average grade of about 48% chromic oxide.